Belt buckle and belt strap combination

ABSTRACT

A belt strap having a first end and a second end with at least one hole extending through the first end and a plurality of holes extending through the second end. A belt buckle is provided which includes a loop and a generally S-shaped hook. The first end of the belt strap is passed through the loop and the hook is passed through one of the holes therein. The second end of the strap is passed through the loop and placed in registry with the hook. The hook is then passed through the hole in the second end to prevent the first end of the belt strap from moving relative to the second end of the belt strap.

United States Patent 1191 Ostrander 1451 Oct. 21, 1975 BELT BUCKLE AND BELT STRAP COMBINATION [76] Inventor: Robert K. Ostrander, 497 Prospect St., Maplewood, NJ. 07040 [22] Filed: May 16, 1974 [21] App]. No.: 470,524

[52] US. Cl. 2/325; 2/311; 24/186; 24/ 177 [51] Int. Cl. A44B 11/22; A41F 3/00 [58] Field of Search 24/176, 186, 177, 77;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 154,673 9/1874 Smith 428,488 5/1890 Harsh 936,565 10/1909 Rosenberg... 1,055,045 3/1913 Hunter 24/176 1,495,032 5/1924 Nix 24/176 2,641,812 6/1953 Boudreau 24/176 2,783,516 3/1957 Stein 24/176 3,748,700 7/1973 Willey 24/186 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,376,719 9 1964 Francem. ..24/186 715,427 12/1931 France ..24/176 [57] ABSTRACT A belt strap having a first end and a second end with at least one hole extending through the first end and a plurality of holes extending through the second end. A belt buckle is provided which includes a loop and a generally S-shaped hook. The first end of the belt strap is passed through the loop and the hook is passed through one of the holes therein. The second end of the strap is passed through the loop and placed in registry with the hook. The hook is then passed through the' hole in the second end to prevent the first end of the belt strap from moving relative to the second end of the belt strap.

1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures BELT BUCKLE AND BELT STRAP COMBINATION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention A belt buckle which can be used on a plurality of different belts.

2. Description of the Prior Art With the increased fashion consciousness of many men, more and more attention is being directedto the style and design of belts. Not too many years ago most belts were approximately 1 inch or less in height and had a plain buckle. Today, nearly all belts are approximately .two and one-half inches in height and many have a decorated buckle. In addition, many belts are colored and have decorations thereon.

In order to have different appearing belts, it is desirable to have belt buckles that can be used with a variety of different belt straps. Quite obviously, such belt buckles must be able to effectively and reliably prevent the movement of the ends of any belt strap with which they are used.

SUMMARY THE INVENTION Purposes of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved belt buckle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a belt buckle of improved aesthetic quality, having no visible signs of attachment to the belt strap.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved belt buckle which can be used with a plurality of different belt straps.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a belt buckle which can be used with a plurality of different belt straps and having means to hold the two ends of the belt strap from moving relative to each other with the means being designed to restrain movement of each end of the belt strap.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a belt buckle which can be used with a plurality of dif- Brief Description of the Invention According to the present invention the foregoing as well as other objects are achieved by a belt buckle member which includes a decorative face. The decorative face can consist in one form of the present invention of a rectangular periphery having four sides, two of which are elongated. Secured to the decorative face is a belt loop which is designed so as to be able to receive each end of abelt strap. Also secured to the deco rative face is a book. The hook is defined as having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes a concave part which faces away from the loop. The second portion extends downwardlyfrom the. first portion and includes a concave part which faces the loop.

ln use, the belt buckle is first attached to the strap by passing the first end of the strap through the loop and passing the hook through one of the holes therein. The strap is then positioned about a persons torso and the second end of the belt strap is passed through the loop. When the overlying portions of the belt strap form a belt of the proper dimension the hook is passed through the hole in the second end of the strap. The concave part of the first portion of the hook restrains one end of the belt from being pulled away from the buckle and in a similar fashion the concave part of the second portion of the hook restrains the second end of the strap from being pulled away from the buckle.

When it is desired to remove the buckle from the belt, the belt is manipulated so that the hook no longer extends through the hole in the second end of the belt strap. The second end is then removed from the belt buckle loop. The belt strap can then be removed from the belt buckle by removing the hook from the hole in the first end of the belt strap and passing the belt strap through the belt buckle loop. The buckle is now available for use on another belt strap.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the belt buckles hereinafter described and of which the scope of application will be indicated. in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIGS. 1 and 2, a belt strap 10 is shown which can be made out of leather, plastic or any other suitable material. Belt strap 10 has a constant height throughout its length and includes a first end 12 and a second end 14. Extending through the first end 12 is at least one hole 13 and extending through the second end 14 are a plurality of holes 15. The hole 13 which extends through the first end 12 can be placed in registry with any of the holes 15 which extend through the second end 14.

A belt buckle 16 is provided and includes a rectangular periphery 18. Buckle 16 can be made from any suitable ferrous material or for that matter any other material which has sufficient strength and rigidity to serve as a belt buckle. While belt buckle periphery 18 is shown as being rectangular and including elongated sides 20 and 22 and shorter sides 24 and 26, it should be understood that this arrangement is for illustrative purposes only and is not a limitation on the shape of the front face of buckles which may be used. Any decoration can be secured to the buckle periphery l8 and in the drawings the initials RKO are shown as being formed from an appropriate material which material is secured to the elongated sides 20 and 22 of the buckle 18.

As shown in FIG. 3, a loop 28 is formed by legs 30 and 32, a cross bar 34 and the side 24 of the belt buckle 16. Legs 30 and 32 extend away from the side 24. The legs 30 and 32 are in vertical alignment and parallel to each other and perpendicular to cross bar 34. The cross bar 34 extends between the portions of legs 30 and 32 remote from side 24 thereby forming the loop 28 encircling the area 37. It is to be appreciated that the enclosed area 37 defined by legs 30 and 32, cross bar 34 and side 24 is large enough to accommodate both the first end 12 and second end 14 of belt strap 10.

In order to provide a locking means which would hold the first and second ends 12 and 14 of the strap 10 in a releasably fixed relationship there is provided a hook 36. The hook 36 is generally S-shaped and extends outwardly oraway from the mid-portion of edge 26 of the belt buckle 16.The hook 36 includes a first portion 38 and a second portion 40. The first portion 38 includes a concave part which faces away from the loop 28, while the second portion 40 includes a concave part which faces toward loop member 28. The hook 36 can be secured to the side 26 of the buckle 16 in any conventional manner and the precise means of connecting the hook to the side does not form a part of the present invention.

An alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. wherein the belt buckle 16 is provided with two hook members 36a and 36b. If a belt buckle according to this embodiment is used, the beltstrap ends 12' and 14' will be provided with holes 13a and 13b and 15a and 15b, respectively, through which the hook members 36a and 36b may extend. The holes 13a and 13b have a diameter smaller than the diameter of the hook members 36a and 36b so that the friction between the walls of the holes 13a and 13b and the hook members 36a and 36b will keep the belt buckle 16 secured to the belt strap end 12.

While the following discussion concerns use of a belt buckle having only one hook member, it is to be understood that as to a belt buckle of the alternative embodiment the same is applicable.

In use, the first end 12 of belt strap is passed through the loop 28 formed by legs 30 and 32, cross bar 34 and side 24 of buckle 16. The hook 36 is then passed through one of the holes 13 in the first end 12 of the belt strap 10. The belt strap 10 is then positioned about a person s torso and the second end 14 of the belt strap 10 is passed through the loop 28..When the overlying portions of the'first end 12 and the second end 14 of the belt strap 10 form a belt of the proper dimension the hook 36 is passed through the hole in the second end 14 of the belt strap 10 in registry with hole 13.The tension exerted by the first end 12 of belt strap 10 bears against the concave part of first portion 38. The tension in the second end 14 of belt strap 10 bears against the concave part of the second portion 40 of the hook 36. The hook 36 prevents the belt strap ends from moving relative to each other and releasably secures the ends of the strap 10 with respect to each other. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the bottom portion 37 of the hook 36 bears against the under surface 38 of the second end 14 of belt strap 10.

In an alternative use,.the belt strap vl0 is placed about a persons torso with the first end 12 and the second first end l2 of-.the beltistrap 10 is placed in registry with the hole 15 in the second end 14 of belt strap 10 so that the belt strap is of the appropriate dimension. Hook 36 is then passed through the holes and prevents the belt strap ends from moving relative to each other as described above.

When it is desired to remove the buckle from the belt, the buckle 16 is manipulated so that the hook 36 no longer extends through the hole in the second end 14 of the belt strap 10. The second end 14 is then passed through the loop 28. The belt strap can then be removed from the belt buckle by removing the hook 36 from the hole in the first end 12 of belt strap 10, and passing the belt strap 10 through the loop 28. A significant feature of the present invention is the ease with which the buckle can be removed from the belt strap.

It is to be noted that alternatively buckle 16 can be manipulated so that hook 36 is removed from the hole 13 and the hole 15. Then the belt strap ends are pulled through the loop 28.

If it is desired to keep the belt buckle secured to the belt strap, the first end '12 of the belt strap 10 extends continually through the loop 28 and the hook 36 extends through the hole 13 in the first end 12 of belt strap 10. The belt strap and buckle can then be used as previously described, when desired.

If desired, the shape of the hook can be varied so that the belt buckle may be fixedly mounted to the belt strap. As an example, the hook shown in FIG. 4 can be used which includes a straight section 44 and a hooked end 46 at the bottom thereof. Located at the midportion of hook 36 is an enlargement 48 which is circular in cross section having a diameter larger than the diameter of the hole 13 in the first end 12 but which can be forcedthrough the hole. Enlargement 48 enables the hook to continually extend through the hole in first end 12 of belt strap '10 without slipping therefrom as may be desirable when the buckle is continuously secured to a belt strap. The use of the belt buckle hook shown in FIG. 4 is the same as that previously described.

Since the belt buckle is not mounted on the belt strap by visible means, a belt buckle of improved aesthetic quality is provided.

It thus will be seen that there is provided a belt buckle and belt strap combination which achieves the various objects of the invention and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

What is claimed is: I

1. A belt and belt buckle combination comprising:

a. a belt strap, having a constant height throughout its length, said belt strap including a first and a second end, said first end having at least one hole extending therethrough, said second end having a plurality of holes extending therethrough;

b. two elongated sides;

c. two shorter sides, said shorter sides joining said elongated sides to form a buckle periphery;

d. a decoration secured to said buckle periphery;

e. a pairof legs mounted to said buckle periphery on the back thereof, extending away from one of said shorter sides, said legs being in vertical alignment and parallel to each other;

f. a cross bar extending between said pair of legs in spaced relationship to said shorter side to form a loop structure defining an enclosed area adapted to receive said first and second ends; and

g. at least one S-shaped hook member secured to the other of said shorter sides extending away from said buckle periphery in the same direction as said pair of legs, said hook member having a first concave portion facing away from said loop structure and a second concave portion facing towards said loop structure, said first end and said second end extending through said loop structure, said at least one hole in said first end being in registry with at least one of said plurality of holes in said second end said hook member extending through said at least one hole in said first end and said at least one hole in said second end in registry with said at least one hole in said first end, a portion of said first end of said belt strap bearing against said first concave portion of said hook member and a portion of said second end of said belt strap bearing against said second concave portion of said hook member so that said at least one hook member prevents said first and second ends from moving relative to each other, said at least one hole in said first end having a diameter smaller than said first concave portion so that when said hook member is passed through said at least one hole said buckle periphery will be secured to said first end by friction. 

1. A belt and belt buckle combination comprising: a. a belt strap, having a constant height throughout its length, said belt strap including a first and a second end, said first end having at least one hole extending therethrough, said second end having a plurality of holes extending therethrough; b. two elongated sides; c. two shorter sides, said shorter sides joining said elongated sides to form a buckle periphery; d. a decoration secured to said buckle periphery; e. a pair of legs mounted to said buckle periphery on the back thereof, extending away from one of said shorter sides, said legs being in vertical alignment and parallel to each other; f. a cross bar extending between said pair of legs in spaced relationship to said shorter side to form a loop structure defining an enclosed area adapted to receive said first and second ends; and g. at least one S-shaped hook member secured to the other of said shorter sides extending away from said buckle periphery in the same direction as said pair of legs, said hook member having a first concave portion facing away from said loop structure and a second concave portion facing towards said loop structure, said first end and said second end extending through said loop structure, said at least one hole in said first end being in registry with at least one of said plurality of holes in said second end said hook member extending through said at least one hole in said first end and said at least one hole in said second end in registry with said at least one hole in said first end, a portion of said first end of said belt strap bearing against said first concave portion of said hook member and a portion of said second end of said belt strap bearing against said second concave portion of said hook member so that said at least one hook member prevents said first and second ends from moving relative to each other, said at least one hole in said first end having a diameter smaller than said first concave portion so that when said hook member is passed through said at least one hole said buckle periphery will be secured to said first end by friction. 